Signaling device



6, 1935- A. J. HALTRICH arm. 2,010,454

SIGNA LING DEVICE Filed March 9, 1952 4 I nggNToRs vvwf i amwifl M ATTORNEY|5 Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGNALING DEVICE Adolf J. Haltrlch and William J. Haltrlch, Cleveland, Ohio 7Claims.

intention of making a turn, to the trailic behind him.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved signal which may be manually actuated by the driver, and which will be automatically discontinued after a predetermined period of time.

Another object is to provide an improved signaling device which will be simple in construction and operation.

Another object is to provide an improved signaling device which will effectively attract the attention of an observer.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention will be better understood from the description of one practical embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which;

Figure 1 is a plan view of the switch mechanism used for operating the signal lights, the covering therefor being removed.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 1III of Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary views similar to Figure l, but showing positions of the parts in operation.

Figure 5 is a wiring diagram.

This application is, in part, a continuation of our prior application Serial Number 441,656, filed April 4, 1930.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide the rear of an automobile or like vehicle with lights for indicating that the driver is about to make either a right or left turn.

These signals have in general been manually actuated, being turned on by the driver before making the turn, and turned ofi thereafter. Due to the distractions of modern trafiic, the driver is inclined to forget to turn off these lights after having made a turn, and the drivers following him are thereby confused and the signal fails to accomplish its purpose. Due to the number of lights carried by vehicles, such as the tail-lights, stop lights, and the like, a signal for indicating turns should force itself upon the attention of an observer and differentiate itself from other signal lights to prevent confusion with them.

By the applicants invention, the driver may turn on the signal lights, which will remain on for a suillcient period of time to permit him to make the contemplated turn, and will then be automatically turned off.

The signal may also be operated so that it will not be confused with the usual tail-light or stop signal, this being effected by causing the light to be illuminated and darkened alternately, which not only distinguishes the signal from those mentioned, but in addition attracts the eye of an observer and so assists in making certain that he will see the signal.

In Figure 5, two signal lights l and 2 are shown for indicating, respectively, left and right turns, these each consisting of an electric bulb in a reflecting casing covered by an appropriate lens which may bear any desired indicia, shown as arrows, in the drawing, the lights most conveniently being positioned adjacent the usual tail-light or rear license number of the vehicle on suitable supports (not shown), or at the sides and rear of the vehicle, as by being mounted upon the fenders.

The lights are connected by conductors 3 and i with the switching mechanism indicated in this figure generally by 5; and are grounded as indicated at 6 and l. The switching mechanism is in turn connected by a conductor 8 to the battery 9 of the vehicle, which itself is grounded as indicated at H3. It will be apparent that when the circuit is completed through conductor 3, electricity is furnished to light I, and when the circuit through conductor 4 is closed the electricity is furnished to light 2.

The switching mechanism consists of an insulated base I l which may be attached by a clamp l2 to the steering column of the vehicle immediately below the steering wheel. Upon this base is pivoted an operating lever I3 carried by a post I and having its inner end formed into a flattened vertical bearing section l5 provided with a depending lug l6 which engages a slot in a movable contacting finger H. A second finger I8 is secured to and in electrical contact with the first.

Two continuous stationary arcuate contacts l9 and 20 are carried by the base H and positioned so that upon movement of the lever, contacting finger I! will be drawn along one or the other of them. The conductors 3 and 4 are connected to the contacts is and 20 respectively.

A conductor 2| is positioned along the lower surface of the base H and has a plurality of projections 22 formed upon it which project through the insulating material of the base and are arranged to be contacted by finger l8 when the lever is mpved to one side or the other. The conductor 2| is connected by means of a wire or the like 23 to a binding post 24 with which conductor 8 is connected. Mounted upon the binding post 24 is a contact 25 arranged beneath a lamp socket 26 formed in the base H and a second contact 21 is also supported beneath this socket and connected directly to the post l4.

It will therefore be seen that when the end of the lever 13 is moved to the right the parts assume the position shown in Figure 4, in which finger I! is bearing upon contact 20 and finger I8 passes from one to another of the contacts 22.

Current flows through conductor 8 to the binding post 24 at which point it may divide, part passing through lamp 28 mounted in the socket 26 thence through contact 21 to post l4, through finger IT, to contact 20 and thence through conductor G to light 2. When the current follows this path only, as when finger I8 is between two successive contacts 22, the resistance of the two lamps 28 and 2, being in series, limits the amount of current so that the lamp 2 is not visibly illuminated, while lamp 28 is illuminated. When finger l8, however, touches one of the points 22, the current can pass directly from binding post 28 through wire 23, conductor 2 I, contact 22, fingers I8 and I! to contact 20 and thence directly through conductor 4 to lamp 2. When this condition obtains, sufiicient current is supplied to lamp 2 to brilliantly illuminate it. Therefore,

as the lever is moved, lamps 28 and 2 are alternately illuminated as the current alternately is caused to flow through lamp 28 or permitted to circumnavigate this lamp and pass directly to lamp 2. Similarly, if the lever is moved to the left as shown in Figure 3, the lamp i will be alternately illuminated, its illuminations also alternating with those of lamp 28.

Pivoted upon posts 29 carried by the base H are two oppositely disposed bell-crank-like levers 38 and 3| having curved ends which bear upon the sides of end l5 of the lever. The opposite ends of these levers are arranged to engage a head 32 connected to a piston 33 which reciprocates in cylinder 34 carried by the base ll. Within the cylinder and surrounding the stem 35 of the piston is a compression spring 36 which bears at its inner end upon the piston and at its outer end upon a cap 31 secured to the cylinder. This spring is arranged to return the lever to its central position in which fingers H and I8 .are out of contact with contacts I9, 20 and 22.

The closed end of cylinder 34 is provided with a threaded aperture in which is inserted a slotted screw 38, a piece of rubber tubing or the like 39 and spring 38 being used to surround the screw and prevent the same from becoming loose, as well as to restrict escape of air from the cylinder. The size of the discharge opening may be regulated by adjusting the screw to vary the area of the slot which extends beyond the end of the cylinder.

A vent is provided through cap 37 so that when the piston shank is drawn out by either of the levers, no compression of air between the cap and piston is caused. The cylinder may also be provided with a vent about half way of its length, which will be uncovered by the piston when drawn outwardly to allow air to enter the closed end of the cylinder.

Obviously, when the lever is moved to actuate one of the lights, the spring will tend to restore the parts to their normal positions, but this restoration will be delayed by the action of piston in expelling the air from the cylinder, and the time taken to expel this air will be proportional to the area of the vent provided by screw 38.

A springwasher ll and fiber washer Ma are used to clamp the lever to post M, a coil spring 42 also being provided to prevent looseness of the parts. The clamping of the lever between the washers acts as a brake to prevent the lever from being returned by vibration or the like until it is moved by the action of the spring, piston and bellcrank levers.

Top and bottom covers 53 and M are provided to enclose the switch parts and may be clamped together by screws passing through the covers as well as the insulating base II.

The levers l3 may be downwardly offset, so that it passes out through a slot in the lower part of the casing, preventing the entrance of rain or the like to the switch mechanism.

While we have described the illustrated embodiment of our invention in some particularity, obviously many others will readily occur to those skilled in the art to which this appertains, and we therefore do not limit ourselves to the precise details shown and described herein, but claim as our invention all embodiments, variations and modifications coming within the scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. A signal including a switch comprising a pivoted lever, two contacting fingers movable therewith and electrically connected together, elongated spaced stationary contacts in the path of one of said fingers arranged to be selectively engaged thereby, an elongated series of spaced contacts electrically connected together in the path of the other of said fingers and arranged to be successively contacted thereby, a source of electrical energy connected to said series of contacts, a resistance element interposed between said source of energy and said contacting fingers, and two signal lights one connected to each of said first mentioned contacts.

2. A signal including a switch comprising a pivoted lever, two contacting fingers movable therewith and electrically connected together, elongated spaced stationary contacts in the path of one of said fingers arranged to be selectively engaged thereby, an elongated series of spaced contacts electrically connected to ether in the path of r the other of said fingers and arranged to be successively contacted thereby and of substantially the same extent as both said first mentioned stationary contacts, a source of electrical energy connected to said series of contacting fingers, a resistance element interposed between said source of energy and said contacting fingers, and two signal lights one connected to each of said first mentioned contacts.

3. A signal including a switch comprising a pivoted lever, two contacting fingers movable therewith and electrically connected together, elongated arcuate spaced stationary contacts in the path of one of said fingers arranged to be selectively engaged thereby, an elongated series of spaced contacts electrically connected together and arranged concentric with said pivot in the path of the other of said fingers to be successively contacted thereby and of substantially the same angular extent as both said first mentioned stationary contacts, a source of electrical energy connected to said series of contacts, a resistance element interposed between said source of energy and said contacting fingers, and two signal lights one connected to each of said first mentioned contacts.

4. A signal including a switch comprising a pivoted lever, two contacting fingers movable there-, with and electrically connected together, elongated spaced stationary contacts in the path of one of said fingers arranged to be selectively engaged thereby, an elongated series of spaced contacts electrically connected together in the path of the other of said fingers and arranged to be successively contacted thereby, a source of electrical energy connected to said series of contacts, a resistance element interposed between said source of energy and said contacting fingers, two signal lights one connected to each of said first mentioned contacts, and resilient means returning said fingers to a position where the first finger is out of contact with said first mentioned contacts, and means controlling the return to said position.

5. A signal including a switch comprising a pivoted lever, two contacting fingers movable therewith and electrically connected together, elongated s'paced stationary contacts in the path of one of said fingers arranged to be selectively engaged thereby, an elongated series of spaced contacts electrically connected together in the path of the other of said fingers and arranged to be successively contacted thereby, a source of electrical energy connected to said series of contacts, a resistance element interposed between said source of energy and said contacting fingers, two signal lights one connected to each of said first mentioned contacts, resilient means returning said fingers to a position where the first finger is out of contact with said first mentioned contacts, means controlling the return to said position, and braking means resisting the motion of said lever and cooperating with said first mentioned controlling means to control the return of the fingers.

6. Signaling apparatus adapted toactuate a signal light and a pilot light comprising a manually movable switch member, resilient means for returning said switch member to its normal position, means controlling the return of said member, a circuit arranged to be closed when said member is moved from normal position, and including both said lights in series, a circuit shunted around the pilot light and including said signal light, and a series of circuit closing means in said last mentioned circuit successively operated by the motion of said member.

7. Signaling apparatus adapted to actuate either of two signal lights and a pilot light, comprising a manually movable switch member, resilient means for returning the switch member to its normal position, means controlling the return of said member, two circuits each including one signal light and having a common portion including the pilot light, one of said circuits arranged to be closed when the switch member is moved from'normal position in one direction and the other arranged to be closed when the switch member is moved from normal position in another direction, and either circuit when closed including its signal light and the pilot light in series, two circuits shunted around the pilot light one connected to each of the first mentioned circuits, and including the signal light of said circuit, and a series of circuit closing means in said last mentioned circuits successively operated by the motion of said member.

' ADOLF J. HALTRICH.

WILLIAM J. HALTRICH. 

